Horse Breeds of the World

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:53 PM Page 1

THE HORSE LIBRARY

DRESSAGE HORSE BREEDS OF THE WORLD HORSE CARE AND HEALTH THE HORSE IN HARNESS THE HORSE IN WAR JUMPING THOROUGHBRED RACING WESTERN RIDING

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:53 PM Page 2

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:53 PM Page 3

THE HORSE LIBRARY

HORSE BREEDS OF THE WORLD

BRENT KELLEY CHELSEA HOUSE PUBLISHERS PHILADELPHIA

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:53 PM Page 4

Frontis: The Arab is one of the oldest and purest horse breeds in the world.

CHELSEA HOUSE PUBLISHERS EDITOR IN CHIEF Sally Cheney ASSOCIATE EDITOR IN CHIEF Kim Shinners PRODUCTION MANAGER Pamela Loos ART DIRECTOR Sara Davis

STAFF

FOR

HORSE BREEDS OF THE WORLD

EDITOR Sally Cheney ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Takeshi Takahashi SERIES DESIGNER Keith Trego

CHESTNUT PRODUCTIONS AND CHOPTANK SYNDICATE, INC. EDITORIAL AND PICTURE RESEARCH Mary Hull and Norman Macht LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION Lisa Hochstein ©2002 by Chelsea House Publishers, a subsidiary of Haights Cross Communications. All rights reserved. Printed and bound in the United States of America. http://www.chelseahouse.com

3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Applied For. Horse Library SET: 0-7910-6650-9 Horse Breeds of the World: 0-7910-6652-5

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:53 PM Page 5

THE HORSE LIBRARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5

EVOLUTION OF THE HORSE

7

HORSES OF THE BRITISH ISLES

15

EASTERN HEMISPHERE BREEDS

25

BREEDS OF THE NEW WORLD

37

MEMBERS OF THE HORSE FAMILY

51

WORLD HORSE BREEDS TABLE

58

GLOSSARY

61

FURTHER READING

62

INDEX

63

5

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:53 PM Page 6

Heavy horses like the Shire are the ancestors of the horses that developed in the northern half of Europe and Asia during the Ice Age. Because they had to survive harsh winters on minimal feed sources, these animals grew thick coats and large, heavy bodies with a protective layer of fat. They came to be known as “coldblooded” horses.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 7

1

THE HORSE LIBRARY

EVOLUTION OF THE HORSE T

he great Secretariat, a Thoroughbred racehorse, won the Triple Crown and was syndicated for millions of dollars. Secretariat was no accident. He was the culmination of millions of years of evolution and hundreds of years of selective breeding. He is just one example of what horses have become. There are more than 400 breeds of horses around the world, ranging in size from the six-foot tall draft horses, some of which can weigh a ton and a half, to miniature horses smaller than dogs. All of them, however, came from a common ancestor, an animal called Hyracotherium, which was about the size of a fox.

7

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 8

8

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Hyracotherium lived 60 to 70 million years ago. It was a vegetarian, like all members of the family, and lived in swampy forests where it was a browser. It had three toes on its hind feet and four on its forefeet. By 25 to 35 million years ago, Mesohippus appeared. This was an animal about the size of a sheep, with only three toes on its front feet. Easy prey for meat eaters, these prehistoric ancestors of the horse moved to the open grasslands, where they evolved into larger, faster, and more refined creatures that used their speed to escape predators. Their teeth evolved to allow them to graze efficiently. The number of toes gradually decreased. By 10 to 25 million years ago, the animal evolved into Merychippus, which was the size of a Shetland pony and had fully adapted to open areas and grazing. Pliohippus, a

Horses as Transportation Dogs, trained to pull light carts, were the first animals that people used for work. About 4,000 years ago, cattle were used to pull wagons. They were bigger and stronger than dogs and could pull a lot more. Then someone discovered horses could do it even better. Horses were used for their meat and milk until perhaps 3,500 years ago, when it was discovered that they could pull more efficiently than the cow, and the animals’ roles were reversed. Nobody knows when someone first decided to sit on a horse, but as early as 3,000 years ago, horses were man’s best form of transportation. The invention of horse shoes circa 900 A.D. helped make horses an even faster, more efficient means of transportation. Horses remained the world’s primary means of transportation until less than 100 years ago.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 9

EVOLUTION

OF THE

HORSE

This fossil of Mesohippus, a sheep-sized early ancestor of the horse, shows what the animal looked like during the Oligocene era.

faster horse about the size of a Welsh pony, was the next step up the evolutionary ladder. Appearing two to seven million years ago, it was very fast—much faster than its predecessors—in part because it had a solid single hoof on each foot. Then, fewer than two million years ago, Equus first appeared. The first Equus resembled Przewalski’s Horse, the last of the true wild horses. It was still hundreds of thousands of years before Equus began to resemble today’s horses. Over a period of 60 or 70 million years, the horse grew larger and faster. The back became straighter and the legs longer. The number of toes shrank to one, and its toenail formed the hoof. The teeth became suited for grazing. The early ancestors of horses lived in the Western Hemisphere—what would later be called North and South

9

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 10

10

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

“Hot-blooded” horses like the Arab originated in a hot, dry climate where they did not need a heavy coat or excess fat. Bred for speed, these horses have thin skins and lightly muscled bodies that enable them to cool down quickly.

America. For reasons we will probably never know, they crossed the land bridge that once connected Asia and Alaska, leaving none in the Americas. Early Equus was widespread throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They migrated in herds in various directions and came upon varying conditions of climate and nutrition. These differences led to differences in appearance and disposition.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 11

EVOLUTION

OF THE

HORSE

Most of these early widespread horses were of the same genus and species, Equus caballus. In some areas, however, other species of Equus evolved. In Africa, zebras, asses, and quaggas evolved. In Asia, Przewalski’s Horse and the kiang and onager appeared. Each was uniquely suited to the specific environment. The horses that inhabited the northern regions—Russia, Scandinavia, central Europe, and the British Isles—adapted to harsh winters. Their coats became thick and they carried a layer of fat. Grazing was good in these areas, and these horses became large, heavy, and strong, but not very fast. They didn’t have to be fast to escape predators, because they had places to hide. The draft horses of today, such as the Percheron of France and the Shire of Great Britain, descend from these early heavy horses, and they are also known as cold-bloods. Draft horses are known for their strength and willingness to work, and they are often used for agricultural work. Horses in the southern regions—Asia Minor and North Africa—evolved very differently. The climate was not cold, so these horses developed light, thin coats and carried no excess fat. Grazing was sparse, so they did not grow as large. With fewer places for concealment in the face of danger, speed was very important. They became very fast. These horses, referred to as hot-bloods, became riding and racing horses. Some common examples include the Arabian horse of Asia Minor and the Barb of North Africa. These early breeds had no contact with other breeds, so they bred true. An Arabian bred to another Arabian produced an Arabian. There were no other breeds present in the area in which they developed. A Murakozi could only breed with another Murakozi in its native Hungary, so only more Murakozis were produced.

11

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 12

12

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Then humans intervened, and, either accidentally or on purpose, the breeds from different parts of the world were brought together and interbred. Hot-bloods were bred to other hot-bloods, producing breeds like the Barb and Thoroughbred. Cold-bloods crossed with other cold-bloods produced new breeds, including the Clydesdale, the Shire, and the Percheron. Hot-bloods were also bred to coldbloods, and vice-versa; the result of these crossings were called warm-bloods. Some examples are the Swiss Warmblood, the Swedish Warmblood, and the Dutch Warmblood. Some early breeds and early crossings became popular and useful, but in time their popularity waned or their use was taken over by other or newer breeds or machines. Many of these breeds are now extinct or very rare. But many of these new breeds proved to be better than their parents. Cross breds were bigger, stronger, faster, more agile or handy, or a more desirable color, or any of a myriad of other traits that man found to his liking. The best of these crossbreds were then bred to each other in the hope of producing a horse even better. Eventually these crosses bred true, that is, the desirable trait or traits appeared in subsequent generations. In this manner, new breeds were produced. This is the way Secretariat’s ancestors were created, as were the ancestors of all of today’s pure breeds, or purebreds. Many people confuse the term “Thoroughbred” with the term “purebred.” They are not interchangeable. A Thoroughbred is a purebred, but a purebred is not necessarily a Thoroughbred. Any horse whose ancestors are all of the same breed is called a purebred. A horse with different breeds in its recent background is called a cross bred, mixed-breed, or grade horse.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 13

EVOLUTION

OF THE

HORSE

Purebred horses may be registered with a specific breed association or breed registry, which increases the horse's value, and its cost. However, mixed-breed horses are often just as suited to equestrian sports as purebred horses. While some horse sports, such as Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred racing, are restricted to a specific breed, other types of competition, including endurance riding, dressage, and eventing, are open to horses of all backgrounds and breeds.

13

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 14

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 15

2

THE HORSE LIBRARY Developed in England, the Thoroughbred is now found all over the world. All modern Thoroughbreds can trace their ancestry to three founding sires: the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Barb, and the Byerly Turk.

HORSES OF THE BRITISH ISLES M

any of the breeds we are most familiar with today had their origins in the British Isles.

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is one of the few breeds that has spread worldwide without crossing with local horses. Thoroughbreds make excellent riding, show jumping, and hunting horses, but the mention of the name “Thoroughbred” brings racing to everyone’s minds. Horseracing has always been popular. For centuries horse races have been staged all over the world using native breeds

15

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 16

16

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

or crosses, but with the development of the Thoroughbred, breeding horses became both an art and a science. Three stallions brought to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries are considered to be the foundation sires of the breed: the Darley Arabian, the Byerly Turk, and the Godolphin Barb. The Darley Arabian was purchased at a Syrian horse market in 1704 by Thomas Darley, who gave the horse to his brother, who in turn stood him at stud, where he was bred to the best native mares in England. The greatest of all racehorses and sires, Eclipse, descended from him. Eclipse is the ancestor of thousands of great racehorses. The Byerly Turk was brought to England in 1689 by Captain Byerly, who had captured one from the Turks at the Siege of Vienna. The great horse Herod descended from the Byerly Turk and many great horses trace to him in their pedigrees. The Godolphin Barb was brought from Morocco around 1730 by Lord Godolphin. At first he was used only as a teaser, but eventually he was bred to a few mares and his offspring proved outstanding. One of his grandsons was Matchem, another great sire of racing Thoroughbreds, to which many of our present-day runners trace. The Thoroughbred is a large horse, usually standing between 15.2 and 16.2 hands (one hand is equal to four inches) at the withers and weighing about 1,200 pounds. The head is small and the eyes are large. The neck is long and slightly arched, the back is long, the shoulder is sloped, the legs are long, the pasterns (the portions of the lower legs just above the hooves) are long and sloped, and the hooves are small. Bay or brown is the main color, but chestnut, black, and gray are common. Roan, which is white hair mixed in with

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 17

HORSES

OF THE

BRITISH ISLES

another color, and white are rare. White markings on the face and legs are usual, and occasionally there are small white markings on the body. Welsh Pony Welsh Ponies were developed in Wales. Their roots trace back more than 2,000 years. There are four recognized “types” of Welsh Pony, and the stud book is divided into four sections. Section A is the Welsh Mountain Pony, a small individual that may not be taller than 12.2 hands. Section B is the Welsh Pony, slightly larger than the Welsh Mountain Pony. They range in size from 12.2 to 13.2 hands. Section C is the Welsh Pony of Cob type, also not taller than 13.2 hands, but stockier and broader. Section D is the Welsh Cob, actually horse-sized, standing 14 to 15.1 hands. The individuals of all four sections are used in the same manner. They are excellent riding ponies and there is a size for everyone. Welsh Ponies are ideal for children who have gotten too large for the smaller Welsh Mountain Pony. Sections A and B are good cart ponies, and all four types can handle light draft work. The head is small, the eyes large and alert, the ears pricked, and the neck arched. The legs are sturdy and well muscled. Section C, the Welsh Pony of Cob type, is thickerbodied and more muscular. All colors occur except piebald and skewbald. Shetland Pony The little Shetland Pony originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland and is one of the oldest known breeds. Its ancestors may have come from Scandinavia around 8000 B.C. and they may have crossed with ponies later brought in by the Celts.

17

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 18

18

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

The Shetland is a popular riding pony for children, and it also excels at driving. Shetlands were once used in coal mines to haul carts.

The original use of Shetlands was as draft animals. They are much stronger than horses, pound for pound, and they were used extensively in coal mines. Eventually they became popular as a child’s riding or harness pony. Their gentle disposition makes them ideal for these purposes. The Shetland is the smallest of the pony breeds. The height may not exceed 42 inches (10.2 hands). All colors except spotted are acceptable. Shire The Shire is the largest breed, going back to the “great horse,” the mount used in jousting and charging in medieval days. It is likely that an influx of Friesian blood occurred

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 19

HORSES

OF THE

BRITISH ISLES

during the 16th century when that breed was brought in by Dutch engineers to work in draining the wetlands. The Shire was important as a war horse because knights in armor weighed as much as 400 pounds and their mounts had to be very strong. In peace, the Shire was also important as a draft animal used to move goods from the docks inland. A Shire is typically 17 to 18 hands, with some reaching 19 hands. A ton (2,000 pounds) is the normal weight, but larger ones may reach 3,000 pounds. The head is small when compared with the body and the profile is slightly convex. The eyes and ears are large and the neck is long and well muscled. The legs are heavily muscled, and are feathered below the knees and hocks. The feet are huge and sound. Colors are bay, brown, black, gray, and chestnut, and white markings are common. Once very common, the number of Shires has declined, but the breed is again gaining popularity among draft horse enthusiasts. Connemara This is a hardy pony that developed along the harsh western coast of Ireland. Ancient ponies inhabited this area and through the centuries Barbs, Arabians, and Andalusians were brought in and interbred with the native ponies, eventually producing the Connemara of today. The Connemara ranges in size from 13 to 14.2 hands. They are excellent for riding as they are gentle and quite intelligent. They are also suited to harness or driving and are used for light draft work. The head is attractive with a straight profile and small ears. The neck and back are long and the legs are sturdy and well muscled with long cannon bones. The original Connemaras were dun, but today gray, brown, bay, and

19

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 20

20

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

black are also common. Colors such as chestnut and roan are rare. Hackney and Hackney Pony The Hackney breed arose in England shortly after the development of the Thoroughbred. Blaze, a Thoroughbred grandson of the Darley Arabian, sired a horse named Original Shales out of a Hackney mare around 1755. Original Shales was bred to Norfolk Trotter and Yorkshire Coach Horse mares and the resulting offspring became the modern Hackneys. Norfolk Trotters and Yorkshire Coach Horses had been used as light work horses and carriage horses and, as such, were trotters, a gait at which the Hackney breed is most adept. The modern Hackney is used as a harness horse in horse shows. They are commonly called “Roadsters” or “Steppers” and are frequently the highlight of an evening’s horse show classes. Hackneys are black, brown, bay, or chestnut and may have white markings. The head and ears are small and the neck is long. The legs are medium in length with long, sloping pasterns. An average Hackney stands about 15 hands with a range of 14 to 16 hands. The Hackney Pony is 12 to 14 hands and is the result of mating Hackneys to Fell and Welsh Ponies in the late 1800s. Their use is the same as Hackneys and they are included in the Hackney stud book. The introduction of pony blood has created a wider range of color. Hackney Ponies are black, brown, bay, gray, or roan, with or without white markings. Clydesdale The native draft horse of Lanarkshire, Scotland, was just not big enough or strong enough for the work being asked

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 21

HORSES

OF THE

BRITISH ISLES

of it, so outside stallions were brought in to strengthen the breed. These were Belgian draft horses, Friesians, and a native stallion named Blaze (not the same one used in the development of Hackneys). Lanarkshire was formerly called Clydesdale, because the River Clyde flows through it, so that is how Clydesdales got their name. The breed was created there in the middle of the 16th century.

A Clydesdale mare and foal relax in their pasture. The Clydesdale is one of the largest draft breeds and is known for its feathered feet and high-stepping action.

21

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 22

22

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Among the largest of all horses, the Clydesdale stands 16 to 18 hands and weighs more than a ton. Primarily used for farm work and heavy hauling, they were also used as carriage and war horses. Today they are best known as the “Budweiser horses.” They are gentle and willing with a strong, high head, wide between the eyes with a broad muzzle. The eyes, nostrils, and ears are large. The neck is long and arched. The legs and pasterns are long and strongly feathered, and the feet are large and tough. Bay is the preferred color with white legs. Cleveland Bay The Cleveland Bay is the oldest of the English horse breeds, dating back to at least 1700. First used as pack and light draft animals, they became excellent carriage horses, and hunters and jumpers, as well as riding mounts. Cleveland Bays stand 16 to 16.2 hands and are bay with a black mane, tail, and legs. The only white allowed is a small

A Horse’s Height A horse’s height is measured not at the top of the head as a person’s is, but at the withers. The withers is the highest point of the back, where the neck meets the back. Height is not measured at a horse’s head because getting a horse to hold its head as high as it can is difficult, but the withers is always in the same position. Height is measured in “hands,” with each hand equalling four inches. The breeds range in height from more than 18 hands (over six feet at the withers) to less than 6 hands (shorter than two feet at the withers).

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 23

HORSES

OF THE

BRITISH ISLES

star; gray hairs occur in the mane and tail of some strains. The head is medium sized and the profile is usually convex. The legs are medium with sloping pasterns. Fell Pony The Fell Pony developed from the breeding of Friesian stallions to local mares. The Friesians were brought to England around 55 B.C. by the Romans to use in the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. The Fell Pony stands 13 to 14 hands and is an excellent pack animal, but it is also quite good as a driving or riding horse. They are bay, brown, black, or gray. White markings are not desirable, although a small star and bits of white on the legs are accepted. The head and ears are small and the back is long and straight. The legs are stocky and well muscled and the fetlocks are feathered. The mane and tail are heavy. Dales Pony Dales Ponies were originally used as pack horses and are very strong for their size. Native ponies, Friesians, and extinct Scottish Galloway Horses went into the makeup of the Dales Pony. From the Galloways the Dales Pony acquired its speed. The breed almost died out during World War II, and by 1955 there were only four registered Dales Ponies. They have recovered and today are commonly used as riding and endurance horses. The head and ears are small, the neck is short and muscular, the back is short, and the legs are short and feathered from the knees down. The mane and tail are thick. Colors are bay, brown, black, and gray, and white markings are uncommon. They stand 13.2 to 14.2 hands.

23

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 24

The Arab, or Arabian, is one of the oldest horse breeds in the world and has been interbred with many types of horses to improve bloodlines and create new breeds.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 25

3

THE HORSE LIBRARY

EASTERN HEMISPHERE BREEDS E

very country has developed horse breeds through the centuries. Some have become popular and lasting, while others fell into extinction after contributing to the creation or improvement of other breeds. Arab The Arab breed is one of the oldest (some say the oldest) pure breeds, although it did not originate in Arabia. The ancestors of the Arabian Horse came from the Middle Eastern countries of Jordan, Syria, Persia (known as Iran today), and other areas of northern Asia Minor.

25

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 26

26

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Arabians are popular in all types of horse shows and sports, including western pleasure, saddle seat, and endurance riding.

Arabs have been used throughout the centuries in the development or improvement of almost every other breed. Arabs are by far the most widespread breed of all. Almost every country has an Arabian breed registry. The Arabian horse is an intelligent, beautiful, mediumsized animal, standing 14 to 15 hands, and very willing to be trained and ridden. The main use of the breed is pleasure riding, but they are also used in the show ring, in endurance

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 27

EASTERN HEMISPHERE BREEDS riding competitions, at which they excel, and as racehorses, although races for Arabs are quite long (three or four miles) and have not become very popular in the United States. Coat color is gray, bay, chestnut, black, and occasionally roan, with white markings being common. The head is small and delicate, usually with a dished profile. The muzzle is small, the eyes are large, and the ears are small. The neck is long, the back is short, and the tail is carried high. The legs are muscular and the feet are small and tough. Andalusian The Andalusian has also been used widely to improve other breeds. As with most breeds, Andalusians have Arab blood through cross breeding in centuries past. Andalusians are graceful, elegant, and fiery, yet calm and very tractable. The head has a slightly convex profile with small ears and alert, medium sized eyes. The neck is arched and the mane is long and wavy. The back slopes and the muscled legs have medium sized, strong hooves. They stand 15 to 16 hands. Most Andalusians are gray, with chestnuts and a few bays occurring. They are excellent riding horses with highstepping action. Lipizzan There are only about 3,000 Lipizzans in the world, with fewer than 500 in the United States, but it is one of the most famous breeds of all. These are the horses of the worldrenowned Spanish Riding School of Vienna. During World War II the school and the Lipizzan horses were nearly destroyed. Fortunately, U.S. General George Patton put them under the care of the United States Army and they were saved.

27

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:54 PM Page 28

28

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

A Lipizzaner from Lipica, Slovenia. Lipizzaners are dark colored when they are born, but get increasingly lighter with age. By age three they have begun to gray, and by the time they are ten they are pure white.

Austria protects the breed and is the only nation allowed to breed Lipizzans. The breeding is done at a large farm in Syria, and the colts are then sent to Austria. Lipizzans are usually white or gray, but some browns do occur from time to time. They stand 15 to 16 hands tall. The head is long with a straight or slightly convex profile, the eyes are large, and the ears are small. The Lipizzan’s neck is arched, its back is long, and its legs are extremely strong and muscled.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 29

EASTERN HEMISPHERE BREEDS

29

Trakhener The Trakhener is a very versatile warm-blood breed. An excellent riding horse, it is also capable of endurance competition and light farm work. It is a large horse, usually standing at least 16 hands, and heavily muscled. All colors occur in the breed, even piebald, although it is not desirable. The head is refined with a small muzzle; the neck is long and crested and the back is short. Belgian The Belgian is a huge draft horse, standing 16 to 17 hands and weighing a ton or more. The breed descended

Born in 1928, the world’s largest horse, Belgian stallion Brooklyn Supreme wore a 40" collar and had a girth of 10' 2". He weighed 3,200 pounds and stood 19 1/2 hands.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 30

30

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

from the Flemish “great horse” of medieval times, and was used to carry knights to the Crusades. Before farm machinery, these horses were extremely important to agricultural operations, and they continue to be used for farm work by the Amish. Belgians are also used in strength competitions and show hitches in the United States. In Europe, many are raised for meat. Belgians are usually chestnut (also called sorrel), or red roan, but other colors are occasionally found. The head is light, the profile is straight or slightly concave, the eyes are large, and the ears are small. The neck and back are short and well muscled. The legs are thin compared to the body, but strong. There is some feathering at the fetlocks. Percheron The Percheron was developed in France centuries ago, and its development was greatly influenced by crosses with Arabs. The horse is a medium-sized draft animal, usually standing 15 to 16 hands and weighing 1,500 to 1,800 pounds. They are most often gray or black, and are used

Large and Small The largest breed is the Shire, but the one largest horse of all time was a Belgian named Brooklyn Supreme. Foaled in 1928, he grew to 191/2 hands at the withers and weighed 3,200 pounds. The smallest breed used to be the Shetland, but with the development of the Miniature Horse there became a new champion. There have been many Minis that stood 7 or more hands, but in 1895 one was foaled in England that grew to only 141/2 inches (a little over 3 hands).

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 31

EASTERN HEMISPHERE BREEDS today as show horses in strength exhibitions as well as work horses for agricultural purposes. The head is fine, and the eyes are alert and active. The neck is long with a heavy mane and the back is short and straight. The legs are solid and powerful. Norwegian Fjord Horse Also called the Norwegian Fjord Pony, the modern breed has become larger than the ancient one. Long ago, they stood 12 hands, but today 13 to 14 hands is normal. The Vikings used Norwegian Fjord Horses as mounts and rode them in war. They were also used for light farm work. They are always dun (a grayish yellow color) with a dark stripe on the back and zebra stripes on the legs. They have a wonderful disposition and are very trustworthy. Many are trained as jumpers, for which they are well suited. The head is medium sized with a concave profile, the eyes are large, and the ears are small. The neck is short with a coarse mane that stands upright for a few inches. The back has a slight dip and the legs are short with a small amount of feathering at the fetlocks. Icelandic Horse This is one of the oldest pure breeds and although it is small—13 hands—it is officially a horse, not a pony. It is an intelligent, gentle horse, but very spirited and not a mount for children or inexperienced riders. It is a natural fivegaited horse. Slower maturing than most breeds, full growth is not reached until age seven. They shouldn’t be ridden until at least age four. The Icelandic Horse has a clean head with a straight profile. The neck is long. The legs are strong and muscled. All colors occur.

31

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 32

32

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Hanoverian The Hanoverian originated in Germany in the 17th century when Oriental, Spanish, and Neapolitan horses were crossed with local horses. The warm-blooded Hanoverian was originally developed as a cavalry mount. Hanoverians are used extensively as show jumpers, but they are also riding and dressage horses. Many have been Olympic champions. They are large—16 to 17 hands. The head is plain with a straight profile. The neck is long. The overall impression a Hanoverian gives is strength. The most common colors are chestnut, bay, brown, black, and gray. White markings are usual. Don Today’s Don breed was developed in the 18th and 19th centuries along the Don River in Russia. A very sturdy and strong large horse—15.2 to 17 hands—the Don was the mount of the Cossacks who drove Napoleon’s army out of Russia in the early 1800s. The Don today is used primarily as a pleasure mount, but it is also capable of light draft work, jumping, and endurance riding. The head is medium-sized with a slightly concave profile. The neck is medium length and the back is straight. Selective breeding in recent years has improved leg conformation, which was previously weak in the knees. The most common color is chestnut. Gotland This pony has existed on the island of Gotland off the Swedish coast since the Stone Age. Over the centuries there has been little change in the breed, which probably descended from the ancient forest horse of northern Europe. The Gotland is very similar to the Exmoor of

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 33

EASTERN HEMISPHERE BREEDS

33

Holsteiners were originally heavy horses, but selective breeding with Thoroughbreds and Yorkshire Coach Horses helped lighten the breed, making it ideal for light harness and saddle work.

England and the two breeds likely developed in the same manner. The Exmoor is rare today. Standing 11 to 13 hands, the Gotland is a hardy, durable, strong pony with great jumping ability and a natural trot. The head has a straight profile, large eyes, and small, erect ears. The neck is short, the back is long, and the legs are strong with long cannon bones (the bones from a horse’s knees to its pasterns). Most are dun.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 34

34

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Holstein The Holstein, or Holsteiner, is a warmblood breed from Germany and it dates back to at least the 13th century, when they were bred for cavalry mounts. In the 1700s and 1800s thousands were exported to other European countries. The Holstein is a large, strong riding horse, sometimes standing more than 17 hands tall, and it excels as a show jumper. An intelligent, willing horse, it is sometimes used in the Olympic Games as a driving and dressage horse. Usual colors are bay, brown, and black. The head has a straight to slightly concave profile with bright eyes and alert ears. The neck is long and slightly arched and the back is long. The legs are short and stout. Russian Heavy Draft Horse The Russian Heavy Draft Horse developed in the Ukraine in the middle of the 19th century. It is a small draft horse, standing 14 to 15 hands, but is extremely strong and well muscled. The head is medium-sized with a straight profile. The neck is short and broad with a crest and the back is long. The legs are short and very muscular. Chestnut is the usual color, but bay and brown occur. They mature early and are willing workers. Mongolian The Mongolian may be the oldest pure breed in the world today. This hardy breed was used by Mongolian cavalry for centuries. Bred and raised in open fields year round with no supplemental feed, it is able to handle extremely cold weather. It is estimated that there are more than two million of the breed in Mongolia today. A true all-purpose breed, it is used for riding, draft work, as a pack animal, and for its meat and milk. They come in

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 35

EASTERN HEMISPHERE BREEDS all colors: bay, brown, black, gray, sorrel, dun, and even buckskin. Pony-sized (12 to 14 hands), the head is heavy, the neck short, and the body wide. The legs are short and stocky. The mane and tail are heavy and dense and there is excessive hair on the legs. Akhal-Teke This is a rare, medium-sized (14 to 16 hands), beautiful horse used for riding and racing. An ancient breed going back to at least the 8th century, it originated in Turkmenistan. The Akhal-Teke is a thin horse with a straight, fine head. The neck is long and thin and the back is long. The legs are long and the feet are large. The most common color is shiny dun, but gray, black, and bay occur. White markings are common. The Akhal-Teke’s gait is almost a gliding movement, and the horse has great endurance. They are fairly slow to mature but live a long time. Though it was once near extinction, careful and selective breeding has brought the breed back. There are breeders in the United States now, and the AkhalTeke is gaining popularity as a mount for endurance riding competitions.

35

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 36

Appaloosas take their name from “the Palouse,” a region of the American Northwest that was once populated by Nez Perce Indians, who selectively bred the horses to be fast, strong, and sure footed.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 37

4

THE HORSE LIBRARY

BREEDS OF THE NEW WORLD H

orses first evolved in the Western Hemisphere, but they left millions of years ago, walking across the land bridge that once connected Asia to the Americas. Thus, the native inhabitants of the Americas did not have horses until Spanish explorers arrived in the “New World” in the 1500s, bringing horses with them. In this way, horses were reintroduced to their original homeland in the Americas. The horse became essential to the development of the Americas. The people of the New World became true horse lovers and adapted the animals to their needs and desires. Many new breeds were created, especially in the United States.

37

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 38

38

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

The American Quarter Horse is known for being quick on its feet. Quarter Horses have a fast, powerful take-off and a sprinting ability that makes them ideal barrel racers.

American Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse is the United States’ first breed, both in origin and quantity. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has approximately three million horses registered and there are nearly a million AQHA members participating in shows and racing. The Quarter Horse traces its roots to Spanish horses brought to Florida in the 1500s. These were later crossed

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 39

BREEDS

OF THE

NEW WORLD

with colonial horses brought from Europe, mainly England. The breed developed without input from Thoroughbreds, although much later Thoroughbred blood was used to refine the Quarter Horse. The Quarter Horse takes its name from its ability as a racehorse. In the early colonies, there were no racetracks. Racing took place in the streets of towns and villages. These were, of course, short races. In time, the standard length came to be a quarter of a mile and the horses that ran in them were called “quarter horses.” Because of their powerful hindquarters, Quarter Horses have a powerful take off and are among the fastest horses in the world for the first quarter of a mile. A Quarter Horse can even beat a Thoroughbred on a short track. As westward expansion took place, Americans took their horses with them (or maybe it is better said that the horses took the Americans) and further talents were discovered for these Quarter Horses. They were excellent riding horses, they could serve as pack animals, and they were able to pull wagons. Then someone came up with the idea of rounding up the herds of wild cattle that roamed the west. Here the Quarter Horse showed talent undoubtedly inherited from its Spanish ancestors that were used to work cattle in their native land. The Quarter Horses were quick and agile and could outmaneuver even the quickest cow. Today they still work cattle, but they are used mainly for racing, pleasure, rodeo, and other horse shows. There are thousands of AQHA-sanctioned horse shows annually. Approximately a third of all registered Quarter Horses are sorrel, but there are 13 recognized colors. Spotted markings, such as those of Pinto and Appaloosa Horses, are not allowed, but white markings are common.

39

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 40

40

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

“The American Quarter Horse,” a painting by Orren Mixer, depicts the ideal American Quarter Horse.

Quarter Horses stand 14.2 to 16 hands, the larger size due to Thoroughbred influence. The head is small and short with bright, wide-set eyes, small, alert ears, and a straight profile. The neck is arched and muscular and the back is short and straight. The legs, especially the hind legs, are very muscular. The feet are small, actually appearing to be too small for a horse of this size. American Saddlebred Fanciers of the American Saddlebred call this highstepping horse “the most beautiful breed in the world.” The breed was developed in Kentucky (it was once called the Kentucky Saddler) by the pioneers, who wanted a quality

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 41

BREEDS

OF THE

NEW WORLD

horse, but one that had the stamina to take them over the mountains and valleys of colonial America while providing a comfortable ride. A wide variety of bloodlines went into the makeup of this horse, including Morgans, Narragansett Pacers, and Spanish horses. The American Saddlebred owes its many gaits to its varied ancestors. The American Saddlebred is now used primarily as a five-gaited or three-gaited show horse or a fine harness horse. The five gaits are walk, trot, canter, rack, and slow gait, while in three-gaited horses it is only the first three. The American Saddlebred stands 15 to 16 hands and is bay, chestnut, black, gray, and occasionally roan. White markings may occur. The head is finely chiseled with wideset eyes and small ears set high on the head. The head is held high on a long, arched neck and the back is short. The tail is long and flowing. The pasterns are long and sloping and the feet are large. Morgan The Morgan is perhaps the only breed in history to descend from one single stallion. A 14-hand bay colt named Figure, foaled in 1789 in Massachusetts, was taken as payment of a debt by Justin Morgan, who took him to Vermont. Morgan tried to sell the colt, but found no takers because of his small size. Rented out to a neighbor, the little horse became a legend in a short time, outperforming all horses he was matched against at walking, trotting, running, or pulling. Legend says that Figure pulled more than horses weighing half again what he weighed. Figure’s ancestry is not known. Some claim he was sired by a Thoroughbred out of an Arab mare, but there is no proof. Upon the death of Justin Morgan, Figure came to be known by the name Justin Morgan.

41

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 42

42

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

As his fame spread, people wanted to breed their mares to him. These mares were of varied ancestry and type, but the resulting foals all bore a great resemblance to little Figure. Eventual breeding to larger mares to increase size did nothing to alter the appearance of the individuals. They all looked like Figure, only larger. Today Morgans stand between 14 and 15.2 hands. The Morgan is a true multi-purpose breed, capable of being ridden, driven, jumped, or used for light draft work. It is a very alert, curious, and intelligent horse. Bay and dark chestnut are the usual colors and white markings are not common. The expression is intelligent and the head is large though short. The eyes are prominent and the ears are short. The neck is muscular and the back is short and broad. Tennessee Walking Horse The Tennessee Walking Horse is seemingly made up of every breed of horse that passed through Tennessee. The breeds that went into creating this wonderful riding horse include Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Narragansett Pacer, Morgan, Canadian, American Saddlebred, and Spanish horses from Florida. Developed by farmers in the late 1800s, the breed gained popularity as a riding horse. Today the Tennessee Walking Horse is used widely as a show horse, utilizing its three natural gaits: the flat-foot walk, the running walk, and the canter. These gaits make it a wonderful pleasure horse. The horse stands 15 to 16 hands and comes in all colors, often with white markings. The head, once coarse, has become refined and is large with large eyes and ears. The neck is long and may be arched. The back is long and the tail sits high. The feet are large and substantial.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 43

BREEDS

OF THE

NEW WORLD

43

The Morgan horse is easily recognized by its upright neck and proud bearing.

Standardbred These are the racing trotters and pacers. The breed traces its lineage to the Narragansett Pacer, the Morgan, and the Thoroughbred, which gave it size and refinement. The name Standardbred comes from a requirement of the breed’s first stud book in 1871. To be registered, a horse had to trot or pace a mile in a standard time. Trotters had to do it in two minutes, 30 seconds, and pacers in two minutes, 25 seconds. Although commonly thought of only as harness racers, Standardbreds are also pleasant riding horses. They stand

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 44

44

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

15 to 16 hands or slightly more. The head is somewhat coarse with a straight or slightly convex profile. The ears are long and the neck is short and straight. The back tends to be long. The mane and tail are long and thick. Bay is the most common color, but brown, chestnut, black, and gray occur. Appaloosa The Appaloosa is considered an American breed, but ancient cave paintings in Europe and Asia clearly show horses with Appaloosa markings. The Indians of the West greatly liked these markings and selected for them in their horses. The Nez Perce of the Pacific Northwest were particularly attracted to these spotted horses. The area of the Palouse River was well known for these horses and a spotted horse became referred to as “a Palouse,” which in time became Appaloosa. At the time that the breed association was formed in 1938, both Arabs and Quarter Horses were allowed to be bred to Appaloosas, but now only registered Appaloosas may be used. The breed has become very popular, with more than half a million registered today. The one characteristic required of an Appaloosa is the “blanket,” a white area of varying size on the rear (or the entire horse) that contains spots. Used for pleasure riding and racing, they are generally 14.2 to 15.2 hands, but some reach 16 hands. The head is small with a straight profile and large eyes surrounded by white sclera, or outer eye membranes. The ears are pointed and the neck is long and slightly arched. The back is straight and the legs are large boned. The hooves are black and white striped. The skin of the nose, lips, and genitals is mottled.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 45

BREEDS

OF THE

NEW WORLD

Despite their small size, miniature horses are popular driving horses with the strength to pull an adult in a wheeled carriage.

American Miniature This is the only breed with a size limitation: they may be no taller than 34 inches (8.2 hands). In confirmation and proportion, Miniatures look like horses, only smaller. They are not ponies. They probably descended from English and Dutch mine ponies that were imported to work in Appalachian coal mines, with the Shetland contributing to the development of the breed. All known horse colors and patterns occur in the breed. Their use is as pets and as small cart horses. Too small to ride, they are intelligent, curious, and kind, and they have been used in therapeutic programs for the disabled and the aged.

45

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 46

46

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Paso Fino Named for its movement, Paso Fino means “fine gait” in Spanish. The breed originated in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries and possibly resulted from crosses of the extinct Spanish Jennet with Andalusians. Paso Finos first entered the United States around 1950. The Paso Fino stands 14 to 15 hands and is very docile. The head is small with a slightly convex profile and large, wide-set eyes. The neck is medium length, upright, and slightly arched. The legs are delicate and the hooves are small. The mane and tail are allowed to grow long and full. The gait for which it is named is very smooth and comfortable for the rider. The horse is used primarily for pleasure riding, but is also shown. Pony of the Americas This is a new breed that had its beginnings in 1954 with a foal by a Shetland stallion out of an Appaloosa mare. Later there were crosses to Arabs, Quarter Horses, Welsh Ponies, and Shetlands. The result is a pony standing 11.2 to 13 hands with Appaloosa markings. Possessing a quiet disposition, a Pony of the Americas (POA) is strong, fast, and durable. It is an excellent riding pony for both children and adults and is also used for dressage, jumping, and showing. The head has a slightly concave profile, large eyes with white sclera, and medium sized, pricked ears. The neck is slightly arched, the back is short, and the legs are solid and well muscled. The hooves are striped like the Appaloosa’s. Palomino Palomino is a color, not a breed, and the whole world has known Palominos for centuries, but it was in the United

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 47

BREEDS

OF THE

NEW WORLD

47

The American Paint Horse comes in two color patterns: overo and tobiano. the stallion on the left has a coat in a chestnut overo pattern, while the gelding on the right is a bay roan tobiano.

States that breed registries for this horse were formed. The Palomino color—golden with a white mane and tail and dark or hazel eyes—occurs in most breeds, with the most notable exception being the Thoroughbred. For this reason, there are no standard physical characteristics associated with these horses. They come in all sizes and shapes. Breeding for the Palomino color is difficult. The best chance for getting a Palomino foal is to breed a Palomino to a chestnut. A Palomino bred to any other color usually produces different coloring from either parent, but not another Palomino. American Paint Unlike the Palomino, which is only a color, the American Paint Horse is a breed with color requirements. Paint Horses are far from American in origin. Like the Appaloosa, they are depicted in cave paintings. They were common in ancient China. The Egyptians left behind many

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 48

48

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

paintings of them. They were a favorite mount of the Huns, and they were popular in Spain. Once introduced to this continent, they gained popularity with Indians because their coloring was beneficial in camouflage. Today, the American Paint is a very versatile animal, being used in stock work, as a riding horse, as a show horse, and for racing. There are two color patterns: overo and tobiano. They are differentiated by the location of white on the horse. The overo has white across the back, a white face, and dark legs. The tobiano’s head is marked as a solid colored horse’s, although there may be a star or a stripe, and all four legs are usually white. Outcrosses are permitted to Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, and the American Paint is of a similar size—15 to 16 hands. The head is attractive with a straight profile, large eyes, and average sized ears. The neck and legs are muscular, and the back is short.

Love Those Spots There is something about spotted horses and ponies that humans have always liked. Pictures of horses with spotted markings appear on the walls of ancient caves, and horses and ponies with unusual markings were highly prized by Native Americans. In the early 20th century, itinerant photographers traveled the eastern United States with spotted ponies and cameras. In the days before instant and disposable cameras, parents hired photographers to take a photo of their child sitting on a pony. The contrasting colors of spotted ponies showed up especially well in black and white photography.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 49

BREEDS

OF THE

NEW WORLD

Peruvian Paso “Paso” means “gait” in Spanish and this horse has a wonderfully smooth gait that makes it a superior riding horse. It is a natural gait that does not have to be taught. The breed is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Originating from Spanish horses crossed with later imports of other breeds, the Peruvian Paso at one time had a wide diversity in type, but careful breeding has developed it into what it is today. A small horse, standing 14 to 15 hands, it comes in all colors with or without white markings. The head is small and thin with a straight or slightly convex profile. The eyes are wideset and round and the ears are short. The neck is short, thick, and arched, and the back is of medium length and slightly dipped. The legs have a short forearm and long cannons in front, with short cannons in the hindlegs. Rocky Mountain Horse This breed originated in Kentucky in the early 1900s but a registry wasn’t formed until the mid-1980s. The foundation sire of the Rocky Mountain Horse was a stallion of undetermined ancestry named Old Tobe, who was gentle enough for kids to ride. This gentleness is a prime quality of the breed. Old Tobe also possessed the gait that makes these horses so comfortable to ride. In recent years the breed has gained popularity and ias a trail and endurance horse. Most Rocky Mountain Horses are 12 to 15 hands, but some reach 16 hands. The color of choice is dark chestnut, with a flaxen mane and tail, but any solid color is okay. White on the legs may not go above the knees or hocks. The head is medium sized with bright, alert eyes and medium sized ears. The neck is medium and slightly arched and the back is short. The hooves are sound.

49

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 50

Zebras are black and white striped members of the horse family native to eastern and southern Africa. While running with the herd, the zebra’s stripes function as camouflage; predators are confused by the tangle of stripes and are often unable to focus on an individual prey.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 51

5

THE HORSE LIBRARY

MEMBERS OF THE HORSE FAMILY U

ntil now, all the animals covered in this book have belonged to the same species, Equus caballus. Other members of the genus are different species. Przewalski’s Horse Until recently it was believed that this wild horse of Asia was discovered in the 1880s, but it was found recently to have been described in unpublished manuscripts written in the 1400s. (By “discovered,” we mean known to the Western World. The people who have lived in the areas inhabited by the Przewalski’s Horse knew it was there all along.)

51

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:55 PM Page 52

52

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

The name is pronounced “sha-VAL-ski.” Attempts to tame them were unsuccessful for years, but lately photographs have appeared of a few Przewalski’s Horses being ridden. Still, it is not an animal destined to be a backyard pet. Historically they have been hunted for meat and not used in any other way. There have been several experiments in breeding Przewalski’s Horses to domestic horses, mostly in Russia, to see if a useful animal such as the mule could be created. The resulting offspring have not proven satisfactory.

In color, size, and shape, the Norwegian Fjord closely resembles the primitive Przewalski’s Horse.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 53

MEMBERS

OF THE

HORSE FAMILY

The Przewalski’s Horse stands 12 to 14 hands and has a large, heavy head with a straight profile, small eyes, and large ears. The neck is short and broad and has a short, upright mane. The back is long and straight and the legs are short with short pasterns. The hoof is long and narrow. The tail is tufted at its end. All of the species are yellowish dun with a dark mane and tail and a dark stripe on the back. The lower legs have zebra stripes. White markings do not occur. Tarpan Also known as the European wild horse, the last wild Tarpan was accidentally killed in 1879 while attempts were being made to capture it. The last one in captivity died in a German zoo in 1887. An extremely ancient breed that once roamed western Russia, it had been hunted into extinction as a source of meat. Light horses that developed in those regions probably descended from it. The Tarpan that exists today is the result of attempts to reconstruct the animal by using its nearest existing relatives, most notably the Polish Konik, believed to be a direct descendent of the original Tarpan. These “new” Tarpans look like the old ones, but they are not the same. They stand about 13 hands and are used for riding and light draft. They are always some shade of dun with a dark stripe on the back and zebra stripes on the upper legs. The mane, tail, and lower legs are black. The head is long and broad with a straight or convex profile. The eyes are small and round and the ears are long and point somewhat to the side. The neck is short and thick with a full mane and the back is long and straight. The legs are long and slender.

53

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 54

54

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Horses belong to an ancient family of animals known as ungulates, the first mammals to develop hooves. They are related to another ungulate, the rhinoceros. All ungulates are plant eaters with keen senses of hearing and smell.

Zebra There are three different species of zebra and all are native to Africa, but they are all striped differently. The mountain zebra (Equus zebra) is silver-white and has black stripes on all of its body except the stomach and the inner part of the thighs. The markings on the head are brown and the muzzle is tannish-bay. They stand about 12 hands. The large head has a straight to slightly convex profile, and the ears are long. The neck is short and has a short, erect mane. The legs are short and thin. The tail is tufted at the end. This species is endangered due to hunting. The plains zebra (Equus quagga) is still plentiful, but it too is hunted. It looks much like the mountain zebra although slightly taller, but instead of white it is cream to light yellow with broad black stripes interspersed with

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 55

MEMBERS

OF THE

HORSE FAMILY

55

fainter markings called shadow stripes. There are several variations in the stripe pattern, and some of these are classified as subspecies. Some refer to them as quaggas, but the true quagga (Equus quagga) was driven to extinction in the 19th century. The quagga was of a darker color and had stripes only on its head, neck, and shoulders. It was more of a forest dweller. The third species, Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), is named for a former president of France, Jules Grevy. It is the largest of the three species, standing up to 15 hands. It is white with numerous narrow stripes, but otherwise resembles the mountain zebra. Unfortunately, it is almost extinct. Zebras were long thought to be untamable, but now there are recorded cases of a few being broken to ride. Generally, however, they are not agreeable to handling of any sort.

Mules A hybrid is a cross between two species. Mules are hybrids of a jackass and a mare. The head, ears, and tail look like an ass, but the size is that of a horse. Mules are very strong, surefooted, long-lived, and stubborn. They are excellent work and riding animals. Once thought to be sterile, some female mules and a few males have been found to be fertile. A stallion bred to a jenny produces a hinny. It has a bushier tail and a heavier body than a mule and is more willing, but not as strong.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 56

56

THE HORSE LIBRARY HORSE BREEDS

OF THE

WORLD

Ass The ass is also known as the donkey, and, in the United States, the burro, although the burro is usually a miniaturized version. The African wild ass (Equus asinus) was probably domesticated around 4000 B.C. by the Egyptians. They were used for riding, as pack animals, to pull carts and wagons, and for light draft work, just as they are today. They are more easily tamed and taught than most horses and are much more surefooted, making them superior on mountain paths. They have medium-sized heads with a straight to slightly convex profile, small eyes, and very long ears. They are always gray with whitish under parts and muzzle and a black stripe on the back. There is a short, erect mane and a tuft of long hair on the end of the tail. They usually stand about 12 hands, although those called burros are often smaller. They are fast (up to 30 mph) and live long (30 to 50 years). The Asian wild ass (Equus hemionus) lives in the desert areas of Mongolia, is taller than the African wild ass (about 13 hands), and has much shorter ears. The color is usually reddish-brown, but may be gray or yellowish, otherwise it looks quite like its African cousin. It can reach speeds of 45 mph and can maintain a pace of 15 mph for up to two hours. There are two other species of wild asses in Asia, the kiang (Equus kiang), which lives on the high plateaus of Tibet, and the onager (Equus onager), also known as the Persian wild ass, which lives in northern Asia Minor. All species of ass are hunted for meat and their hides, which make good leather. There are believed to be only about 3,000 African wild asses left, but in Mongolia the Asian wild ass may number that many in one herd.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 57

MEMBERS

OF THE

HORSE FAMILY

The donkey, or ass, comes in all shapes and sizes and is used as a draft and pack animal, a stable companion, and as a surefooted mount.

Unlike the horse, which carries its young 11 months or slightly longer, asses have a pregnancy length of a year to 13 months. The male is called a jack, or jackass, and the female is called a jenny. The horse breeds and the different species in the horse family that we have discussed in these five chapters are by no means all there are. They are merely the most common or most popular, and from these the reader can get an idea of the tremendous variety among horses and the many different uses of the horse breeds.

57

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 58

58

THE HORSE LIBRARY WORLD HORSE BREEDS Table of World Horse Breeds

Breed

Origin

EQUUS CABALLUS Abtenauer Austria Abyssinian Ethiopia Adaev Kazakhstan Akhal-Teke Turkmenistan Albanian Albania Albino USA Algerian Barb Algeria Altai Siberia Alter Real Portugal American Bashkir Curly USA American Indian Horse USA American Miniature USA American Mustang USA American Paint Horse USA American Quarter Horse USA American Saddlebred USA American Shetland USA American Walking Pony USA Andalou Turkey Andalusian Spain Andean Peru Anglo-Kabarda Caucasus Anglo-Karachai Russia Annamese Vietnam Appaloosa USA AraApaloosa USA Arab Middle East Araba Turkey Argentine Criollo Argentina Argentine Polo Pony Argentina Assateague/Chincoteague USA Asturian Spain Australian Pony Australia Australian Stock Horse Australia Austrian Warmblood Austria Auxois France Avar Russia Avelignese Italy Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azores Azores, Portugal Azteca Mexico Bagual (feral horse) Argentina Bahr-el-Ghazal Chad Baise China Balearic Spain Bali Indonesia Balikun China Baluchi Pakistan Banamba Mali Banar Romania Bandiagara Niger Ban-ei Race Horse Japan Banker Horse USA Bardigiano Italy Bashkir Russia Basuto Lesotho Batak Indonesia

Breed

Origin

Bavarian Warmblood Germany Belgian Ardennais Belgium Belgian Country Bred Belgium Belgian Draft Belgium Belgian Halfblood Belgium Belgian Warmblood Belgium Bhirum Nigeria Bhutia India Black Sea Horse Russia Bobo Ivory Coast Bornu Nigeria Bosnia Yugoslavia Boulonnais France Brandenburg Germany Brazilian Sport Horse Brazil Breton France British Appaloosa England British Riding Pony England British Spotted Pony England British Warmblood England Brumby Australia Buckskin USA Budyonny Russia Bulgarian Heavy Draft Bulgaria Bulgarian Mountain Pony Bulgaria Buohai China Buryat Buryotia Byelorussian Harness Byelorussia Calabrian Italy Camargue France Cambodian Cambodia Campeiro Brazil Campolina Brazil Canadian Canada Canadian Cutting Horse Canada Canadian Pinto Canada Canadian Rustic Pony Canada Canadian Sport Horse Canada Canik Turkey Cape Horse South Africa Capitanata Italy Carpathian Pony Poland, Romania Carthusian Spain Caspian Iran Cerbat USA Chakouyi China Chara Horse Russia Cheju Korea Chikasaw USA Chilean Chile Chilote Chile Chinese Kazakh China Chinese Mongolian China, Mongolia Chola Peru Chumbivilcas Peru Chummarti Tibet Chumysh Russia Chyanta Nepal

Breed

Origin

Cirit Turkey Cleveland Bay England Clydesdale Scotland Colombian Criollo Colombia Colorado Ranger USA Comtois France Connemara Ireland Corsican France Costa Rican Saddle Horse Costa Rica Costeno Peru Cuban Paso Cuba Cuban Pinto Cuba Cuban Trotter Cuba Cukorova Turkey Czech Coldblood Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Small Riding Horse Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Trotter Czechoslovakia Czech Warmblood Czechoslovakia Dabrowa-Tarnowska Poland Dagestan Russia Dahoman Poland Dales Pony England Danish Oldenborg Denmark Danisj Sport Pony Denmark Danish Warmblood Denmark Danubian Bulgaria Dartmoor Pony England Datong China Deccani India Deli-Orman Bulgaria Deliboz Azerbaijan Djerma Niger Dobrogea Romania Dole Gudbrandsdal Norway Dolny-Iskar Bulgaria Don Russia Dongola Cameroon Dulmen Pony Germany Dutch Draft Holland Dutch Tuigpaard Holland Dutch Warmblood Holland East and Southeast Anadolu Turkey East Bulgarian Bulgaria East Friesian Germany East Friesian Warmblood Germany Elegant Warmblood Germany Eleia Greece English Cob England English Hack England English Hunter England English Thoroughbred England Eriskay Pony Scotland Erlunchun China Esperia Pony Italy Estonian Draft Estonia

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 59

59 Table of World Horse Breeds Breed

Origin

Estonian Native Estonia Exmoor England Faeroe Island Horse Denmark Falabella Argentina Fell Pony England Finnhorse Finland Fleuve Senegal Flores Indonesia Florida Cracker Horse USA Fouta Senegal Frederiksborg Denmark Freiberg Switzerland French Anglo-Arab France French Ardennais France French Cob France French Saddle Pony France French Trotter France Friesian Holland Furioso Hungary Galiceno Mexico Garrano Portugal Gelderland Holland German Riding Pony Germany Giawf Yemen Gidran Hungary Gotland Sweden Griffin Mongolia Groningen Holland Guanzhong China Guizhou China Guoxia China Hackney England Hackney Pony England Haflinger Austria Hailar China Half Saddlebred USA Hanoverian Germany Hausa Niger Heihe China Heilongkiang China Hequ China Herati Afghanistan Hessen Germany Highland Scotland Hinis Turkey Hispano-Bretona Spain Hirzal Pakistan Hodh Mali Hokkaido Japan Holstein Germany Hungarian Coldblood Hungary Hungarian Dun Hungary Hungarian Sport Horse Hungary Icelandic Horse Iceland International Striped Horse USA Iomud Turkmenistan Irish cob Ireland Irish Draft Ireland

Breed

Origin

Irish Hunter Ireland Israeli Israeli Java Indonesia Jianchang China Jielin China Jimhong China Jinzhou China Jutland Denmark Kabarda Caucasus Kabuli India Kalmyk Astrakhan, Volgograd Karabair Uzbekistan Karabakh Azerbaijan Karacabey Turkey Karachai Caucasus Karakacan Turkey Karakachan Bulgaria Kathiswari India Kazakh Kazakhstan Ke-Er-Qin China Khakassk Russia Kielce Poland Kiger Mustang USA Kirdi Pony Chad Kirgiz Kirgizia Kisber Halfbred Hungary Kiso Japan Kladruby Czechoslovakia Knabstrup Denmark Konik Poland Koto-Koli Pony Benin Kushum Kazakhstan Kustanai Kazakhstan Kuznet Siberia Landais France Latvian Latvia Lewitzer Germany Lezgian Russia Libyan Barb Libya Lichuan China Lijiang China Lipizzan Austria Liptako Ivory Coast Lithuanian Heavy Draft Lithuania Ljutomer Trotter Yugoslavia Llanrero Venezuela Lokai Tadzhikistan Lundy Pony England Lusitano Portugal M’Bayar Senegal M’Par Senegal Macedonian Yugoslavia Madagascan Pony Madagascar Makra Pakistan Malakan Turkey Malopolski Poland Mangalarda Marchador Brazil Mangalarda Paulista Brazil

Breed

Origin

Manipuri India Maremmana Italy Marwari India Mazari Afghanistan Mazuri Poland Mbai Chad Megezh Yakutia Megrel Georgia Merens France Messara Greece Mezen Russia Mezohegyes Sport Horse Hungary Mijertinian Somalia Minusin Russia Mira Pony Portugal Misaki Japan Missouri Fox Trotter USA Miyako Japan Moldavian Romania Mongolian Mongolia Morab USA Morgan USA Moroccan Barb North Africa Mossi Ivory Coast Moyle Horse USA Murakoz Hungary, Yugoslavia Murghese Italy Mustang USA Mytilene Turkey Nagdi Yemen Namib desert Horse Namibia Narym Siberia National Appaloosa Pony USA National Show Horse USA National Spotted Saddle Horse USA Native Mexican Mexico Nefza Tunisia New Forest Pony England Newfoundland Pony Canada New Kirgiz Kirgizia Nigerian Nigeria Nogal Somalia Noma Japan Nonius Hungary Nooitgedacht South Africa Noriker Austria Northeastern Brazil Northern Ardennais France Northlands Pony Norway North Swedish Horse Sweden North Swedish Trotter Sweden Norwegian Fjord Norway Oldenburg (Modern and Old types) Germany Oriental Horse Middle East Orlov Trotter Russia Palomino USA Panje Poland, Russia

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 60

60

THE HORSE LIBRARY Table of World Horse Breeds

Breed

Origin

Pantaneiro Brazil Paso Fino Puerto Rico Patibarcina Cuba Pechora Russia Peneia Greece Percheron France Periangan Indonesia Persia Arab Iran Peruvian Paso Peru Petiso Argentino Argentina Petite Boulonnais France Philippine Pony Philippines Pindos Greece Pinto USA Piquira Pony Brazil Pleven Bulgaria Poitou Mule Producer France Polesian Byelorussia, Ukraine Polish Draft Poland Poljakoff Mongolia Pony Mousseye Cameroon Pony of the Americas USA Pottok Spain, France Priob Siberia Puno Pony Chile Rahvan Turkey Rajshahi Bangladesh Rhineland Heavy Draft Germany Rila Mountain Bulgaria Rocky Mountain Horse USA Rodopi Bulgaria Romanian Saddle Horse Romania Romanian Traction Horse Romania Rottal Germany Royal Canadian Mounted Police Horse Canada Russian Heavy Draft Ukraine Russian Saddle Horse Russia Russian Trotter Russia Sable Island Horse Canada Sacz Poland Sahel Mali Salerno Italy Sandalwood Indonesia Sandan China Sanfratello Italy Sanhe China Sardinian Anglo-Arab Italy Sardinian Pony Italy Sarvar Hungary, Austria Schleswig Germany Schwarzwalder Fuchse Germany Selle Francais France Senne Germany Shagya Arabian Hungary Shami Yemen Shan Burma Shetland Scotland

Breed

Origin

Shire England Silesian Poland Sini China Skyros Greece Slovak Mountain Czechoslovakia Slovak Warmblood Czechoslovakia Sokolka Poland Somali Pony Somalia Songhai Mali, Niger Sorraia Portugal, Spain South African Miniature South Africa South German Coldblood Germany Southwest Spanish Mustang USA Soviet Heavy Draft Russia Spanish-American Horse Spain, Americas Spanish Anglo-Arab Spain Spanish Barb USA Spanish Colonial Horse USA Spanish Mustang USA Spanish Trotter Majorca, Spain Spiti India Standardbred USA Stara Planina Bulgaria Stuhm Poland Suffolk England Sulawesi Indonesia Sulebawa Nigeria Sumba Indonesia Sunbawa Indonesia Swedish Ardennes Sweden Swedish Warmblood Sweden Swiss Warmblood Switzerland Syrian Arab Syria Sztum Poland Taishsuh Japan Tajik Russia Tanghan Nepal Tarai Nepal Tattu Nepal Tavda Russia Tennessee Walking Horse USA Tersk Russia Thai Pony Thailand Thessalian Greece Tibetan Tibet, China Tieling China Timor Indonesia Tokara Japan Tolfetana Italy Tori Estonia Torodi Niger Trakehner Germany Trakya Turkey Transylvanian Romania Transylvanian Lowland Romania Trote en Gallope Colombia Tunisian Barb Tunisia

Breed

Origin

Turkoman Turkmenistan Tushin Georgia Tuva Siberia Ukrainian Saddle Horse Ukraine Unmol India Uzunyayla Turkey Vladimir Heavy Draft Vladimir Voronezh Coach Horse Russia Vyatka Kirov, Udmurtia Waler Australia Waziri Pakistan Wielkopolski Poland Welera USA Welsh: Cob, Mountain Pony, Pony, Pony of Cob Type Wales Western Sudan Pony Sudan Westphalian Germany Wurttemberg (Modern and Old types) Germany Xilingol China Yabu Afghanistan Yagha Ivory Coast Yakut Siberia Yanqi China Yemen Horse Yemen Yemeni Horse Yemen, Arabia Yili China Yiwu China Yugoslay Draft Yugoslavia Yugoslav Mountain Pony Yugoslavia Yonaguni Japan Yunnan China Zaniskari India Zhemaichu Lithuania Zobnatica Halfbred Yugoslavia

OTHER SPECIES Ass African Wild Ass (E. asinus) North Africa Asian Wild Ass (E. hemionus) Mongolia Kiang (E. kiang) Tibet Onager (E. onager) Iran Przewalski’s Horse (E. przewalski poliakov) Mongolia Tarpan (E. przewalski gmelini)Poland, Russia Zebra Grevy’s (E. grevyi) Eastern Africa Mountain (E. zebra) South Africa Plains (E. quagga) Central Africa

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 61

GLOSSARY

61

Bay—a horse color, ranging from light brown to deep reddish-brown with black mane, tail, and lower legs Browser—a vegetarian animal that moves about as it feeds Buckskin—a horse color, ranging from light to dark tan with black mane, tail, and lower legs Cannons or cannon bones—the bones in a horse’s legs from the knees, or hocks, to the pasterns Chestnut—a horse color, reddish-brown with mane, tail, and lower legs of the same color Dun—a horse color, any of the various shades of tan with a black mane, tail, and lower legs, and a black or dark stripe down the back; the legs often have zebra stripes Feathers or feathering—long hair on the legs or pasterns of some breeds of horse Fetlock—the joint where the cannon bone joins the pastern in a horse’s lower leg Hand—unit of measure used to determine the height of a horse, equal to four inches Hybrid—the offspring of two different species Pastern—the portion of a horse’s lower leg between the foot and the fetlock joint Piebald—a horse color, white and black spots Purebred—a breed of animal that has ancestors of the same breed Roan—a horse color, yellowish- or reddish-brown sprinkled with gray Sclera—the white outer membrane of the eye, except that which is covered by the cornea Skewbald—a horse color, white and brown spots Stud book—the term for the registry of purebred animals Teaser—a stallion used for the purpose of determining when mares are ready to breed, but not himself used as a breeding animal

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 62

62

THE HORSE LIBRARY

FURTHER READING

Ames, Fran A. The Big Book of Horses: The Illustrated Guide to More Than 100 of the World’s Best Breeds. Philadelphia: Courage Books, 1999. Draper, Judith. The Book of Horses: An Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds of the World. New York: Lorenz Books, 2000. Edwards, Elwyn Hartley. Ultimate Horse Book. Columbus, Missouri: DK Publishing, 1991. Hendricks, Bonnie L. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1995. Kidd, Jane, editor. The International Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies. New York: Howell Book House, 1995.

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 63

63

INDEX Akhal-Teke, 35 American Quarter Horse, 38–40 American Miniature, 45 American Paint, 47, 48 American Saddlebred, 40, 41 Andalusian, 27 Apaloosa, 44 Arab, 25–27 Ass, 11, 56, 57

Lipizzan, 27, 28

Belgian, 29, 30 Brooklyn Supreme, 30 Byerly Turk, 16

Norwegian Fjord, 31

Cleveland Bay, 22, 23 Clydesdales, 20–22 Cold-bloods, 11, 12 Connemara, 19, 20 Cross-breds, 12 Dales Pony, 23 Darley Arabian, 16 Don, 32 Donkey, 56, 57 Equus, 9–11

Merychippus, 8 Mesohippus, 8 Miniature horse, 30. See American Miniature Mongolian, 34, 35 Morgan, 41, 42 Mules, 55

Palomino, 46, 47 Paso Fino, 46 Percheron, 30, 31 Peruvian Paso, 49 Pliohippus, 8 Pony of the Americas, 46 Przewalksi’s Horse, 9, 51–53 Purebreds, 12, 13 Quagga, 11, 55 Quarter Horse. See American Quarter Horse Rocky Mountain Horse, 49 Russian Heavy Draft, 34

Fell Pony, 23 Godolphin Barb, 16 Gotland, 32, 33

Shetland Pony, 17, 18, 30 Shire, 18, 19, 30 Standardbred, 43, 44

Hackney, 20 Hands, 22 Hanoverian, 32 Herod, 16 Holstein, 34 Hot-bloods, 11, 12 Hyracotherium, 7, 8

Tarpan, 53 Tennessee Walking Horse, 42 Trakhener, 29 Thoroughbreds, 15–17

Icelandic Horse, 31

Zebra, 11, 54

Warm-bloods, 12 Welsh Pony, 17

CH_Breeds_Pgs 4/11/03 4:56 PM Page 64

64

THE HORSE LIBRARY

page: 2: John Macken 6: ©Kit Houghton Photography/Corbis 9: Corbis 10: John Macken 14: Barbara D. Livingston 18: Corbis 21: ©1993 by Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Used with permission of AnheuserBusch, Inc. All rights reserved 24: David F. Clobes 26: John Macken 28: © Galyn C. Hammond 29: From the collection of Jim Richendollar 33: Karl Leck/USESA 36: Photo by Don Shugart—Compliments of the Appaloosa Horse Club

PICTURE CREDITS 38: reprinted with permission from the American Quarter Horse Association 40: reprinted with permission from the American Quarter Horse Association 43: Courtesy of the American Morgan Horse Association 45: Rosemarie Colombraro 47: Courtesy of the American Paint Horse Association 50: AP/Wide World Photos 52: Mary Hull 54: AP/Wide World Photos 55: Mary Hull 57: Bruce Carr/Freedom Photography

Front Cover Photo: © Kit Houghton Photography/CORBIS

BRENT KELLEY is an equine veterinarian and writer. He is the author of many books on baseball history. Two books (written under the pen name Grant Kendall) tell about his experiences as a veterinarian. He has also written four books for Chelsea House Publishers. He is a columnist for Thoroughbred Times, a weekly horse racing and breeding publication. He also writes for Bourbon Times, a weekly family newspaper. Brent Kelley has written more than 400 articles for magazines and newspapers. He lives in Paris, Kentucky, with his wife, children, and horses.